Criticizing the hierarchy is a favorite pastime of trad Catholics. And in strict justice, many prelates could use some filial correction.
But credit where credit is due: American bishops are turning the Eucharistic crisis around.
A new study shows that almost two-thirds of adult Catholics in the United States believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, a significantly different result from the often-cited 2019 Pew Research study that suggested only one-third of adult Catholics in the U.S. believe in the Church’s teaching on the Blessed Sacrament.
It’s the exact inverse of the older study, as a matter of fact.
The CARA study, which also points to a high correlation between weekly and monthly Mass attendance and belief in the Real Presence, comes amid the second year of the U.S. bishops’ Eucharistic revival, which was launched in part because of the Pew Research poll.
Good on the bishops for taking swift, decisive action to reaffirm a central teaching of the faith.
More, please.
By the way, all those stats showing that American Catholics hold liberal views disappear when you correct for weekly Mass attendance.
Zachary Keith, assistant director on the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, told CNA Thursday that it is important to look at how questions relating to belief in the Eucharist are phrased, citing the difference in wording of both studies as a “large part of the reason for the discrepancy.”
Yet another lesson demonstrating that a) You can’t trust mainstream reporting on the Church, and b) the main purpose of polls isn’t to reflect public opinion but to shape it.
The revival culminates at its National Eucharistic Congress, which will be held next July and is expected to draw 80,000 Catholics to worship the Blessed Sacrament at Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts.
For those who don’t stay current on the TTRPG scene, Lucas Oil Stadium also plays host to Gen Con. Every year, they pack the stadium to the rafters with pop cultists. So it’ll be fun to see the place overflowing with even more Catholics.
Kind of like a home exorcism on a grander scale.
Anyway, the new study isn’t all good news.
Seventeen percent of adult Catholics attend Mass at least once a week, the report said. Before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, 24% of Catholics attended Mass weekly, it said.
Almost 20% of adult Catholics attend Mass at least once a month and 26% attend a few times a year, the report said. Thirty-five percent rarely or never attend.
I’m no canon lawyer, but it strikes me as unlikely that self-professed Catholics who never attend Mass are fulfilling all the precepts of the faith.
At best, they’re in a constant state of manifest grave sin.
Shouldn’t they meet the criteria for latae sententiae excommunication?
Calling people who neither believe in the Real Presence nor attend Mass Catholic seems to make less sense than applying that title to Joe Biden, who at least attends Mass with some regularity.
The point is, if you correct for people who bother to meet the bare minimum requirements for membership in the Church, the percentages on these essential doctrines aren’t that bad.
They still need serious improvement, but it looks like that’s happening.
Anyway, don’t rush to believe any MSM reporting on the Church.
It’s a good practice to wait at least two days before drawing any conclusions. And finding the full, original statements from quoted prelates isn’t that difficult.
Just remember that the Church is going to bury the Death Cult, just like she’s buried every other hostile religion, government, and movement that rose up against her.
We can always take assurance in that.
Our Lady, Mother of the Church and St. Joseph, Protector of the Church, pray for us!
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